Lion Invincible

The Percy Trilogy #3

by Carol Wensby-Scott

Medieval England: a cauldron of dynastic ambition, of unexpected chivalry, of ruthless treachery, where self-seeking and self-sacrifice could mark the same man, and family enmities were pursued to the third and fourth generation. Against this flamboyant backdrop is set the majestic saga of the Percy family, whose turbulent affairs – and unrelenting feud with their neighbors, the Nevilles – influenced the fate of kings and the history of a nation.

LION INVINCIBLE

Released after nine cruel years in the Tower, Harry Percy is restored to his northern estates, and with quiet ruthlessness takes up once more his family heritage: the quest for the ruin of the Nevilles. To this end he forges a strange pact with Richard Plantagenet, pledging to support the House of York against the Lancastrians. But in a fateful revulsion of feeling he finds on the very eve of Bosworth Field that he cannot love the King of England as he had loved the Duke of Gloucester. And so the last of the Plantagenets fell to Henry Tudor, and English history lurched into a path entirely new.

Genres: Historical Fiction

330 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published January 1, 1984

About the author

Carol Wensby-Scott was born and educated in Brighton, Sussex. Before becoming a full-time writer she ran an antiquarian bookshop. Her first novel, Proud Conquest, was published in 1979 and Lion of Alnwick, the first of the Percy trilogy, in 1980. She now lives in Northumberland where she has carried out much of her research.

Reviews

[Misfit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Portions of this review will discuss events that are historical fact. Those not familiar with the period might consider them spoilerish, so enter at your own risk.

After the battle of Towton, a very young Henry (Harry) Percy gets off on the wrong foot with the Yorkist victor and is promptly sent to gaol for nine years, the latter portion of which he spends at Pembroke castle where he meets Henry Tudor and his mother Margaret Beaufort. Harry is a Percy at heart and eventually bows to the inevitable and since a Yorkist king is as good or bad as a Lancaster, he swears fealty to King Edward so he can regain his earldom and lands in Northumbria.

"...I have more to concern myself with than whether my king is descended from John of Gaunt or Lionel, Duke of Clarence."

Harry was the product of a most unhappy marriage, and between that, his vicious mother and his younger illegitimate cousin John, let's just say that there's plenty of emotional upheaval, double-dealing and scheming afoot in Northumberland - can Harry get past the emotional baggage and find happiness with Maude Herbert? Let's hope so...

The Lancasters aren't down yet and Edward's reign is a rocky one at times, and Richard of Gloucester is sent to stabilize the north. While the two lords butt heads at first, they eventually build a friendship based on mutual respect, and Harry swears fealty to Richard as his overlord. When Edward IV dies, Richard's ambitious nature comes to the fore, heads start rolling and let's just say that Harry's faith and loyalty to Richard is sorely tested, particularly when the young princes go missing (and what an interesting little twist on who suggested that foul deed).

"Yet the accusation that Richard had murdered his nephews had raised enough smoke to choke all Christendom and still Richard did nothing."

Henry Tudor finally makes his bid for England's throne and Harry is commanded to bring out the north, but is he able to keep his oath of loyalty after Richard's recent actions?

"But I did warn you, my lord, that if you ever break faith, I would not lift a hand to save you from all the fires of Hell."

Fires of hell indeed, but you'll have to read it for yourself. This was great reading, and fascinating getting a look at this conflict from the Percy point of view and I found the author's theory as to why Harry held back at the battle of Bosworth field a credible one, as well as events that happened afterward. Wensby-Scott excels at taking an extremely complicated bit of history and puts it into novel format that is both educational and entertaining. The characters are well drawn with plentiful shades of gray - no Richard-Sue to be found here. This book is the third in a trilogy the author wrote on the Percys of Northumberland, the first two being The Lion of Alnwick and Lion Dormant. They're getting a bit hard to find, so if you're interested I'd recommend snapping them up sooner rather than later. 4/5 stars.

[Sara Giacalone · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew what was going to happen... so I hesitated to read the last few pages. But I couldn't stall forever. Lion Invincible was a solid ending to a fantastic series, one I know I will be reading again. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the well-trodden history of Edward IV's early demise, Richard III's ascension to the throne, and the ultimate conquest of Henry IV from Northumberland's point of view. I always had trouble seeing his motivations at Barnett, and this series (and book) helped provide some framework.

My random thoughts: Can anyone make Henry IV likable? I don't think so; can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear after all. Doesn't it seem like all the gross exaggerations attributed to Henry VIII with women and food really belong to Edward IV? I'm not saying Henry was charming to the ladies, but he was much more rightous than Edward IV, and Edward's court was so debauched. Henry always had a veneer of piousness.

I'll say it again: these books need to be back in print!